James City County residents vote down stormwater bond

JAMES CITY — — James City County residents voted down a measure Tuesday that would have given the Board of Supervisors permission to borrow $30 million for stormwater management projects.

More than 64 percent or 15,692 of those who voted on the referendum, checked "no" on their ballots for $30 million bond issue that would have paid for stream restoration, drainage improvements and retrofitting existing stormwater systems. The improvements would have been completed over the next decade.

About 34 percent or 8,187 people voted in favor of the stormwater issue.

County voters followed Board Chairman and Stonehouse Supervisor Jim Kennedy and Roberts District Supervisor Bruce Goodson, who said Friday they would not support the bond issue after the Board unanimously voted earlier to place the referendum on the ballot.

Goodson said he wanted the county to wait and see what becomes of the possible Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

Kennedy said he saw the bond issue as another tax hike. He said many of the proposed stormwater projects were Virginia Department of Transportation projects that hadn't been funded and his district will not benefit much from them.

Kennedy said he was pleased with the vote.

"Tonight citizens sent a clear message that they don't want to be taxed for that (stormwater) fee," Kennedy said.

Jamestown District Supervisor John McGlennon said he was disappointed, but wasn't surprised that county residents voted down the referendum.

"Obviously when you have board members who publicly speak out against a bill, it causes confusion," McGlennon said. "Whether or not this bond issue passed, the problem of addressing stormwater needs continues."